Dr Singh is leaving for Moscow on Sunday for the 14th Annual India-Russia Summit with the Russian President Vladimir Putin from where he would proceed to Beijing for a delegation level talks with the Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang.

During his China tour, the controversial Border Defence Cooperation Agreement (BDCA), designed to prevent face-offs between Indian and Chinese troops along the over 4,000 km Line of Actual Control (LAC), is expected to be signed. The blueprint of the controversial BDCA has been cleared by the Cabinet Committee on Security on Thursday.

Russia has gas reserves and discussions at the 14th Annual India-Russia Summit on October 21 are likely on working out proposals for a gas pipeline project for export of gas to India.

Regarding Kundankulam project the Indian Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh said : 'We hope to conclude specific contracts in the near future. Near future means, near future. Let's see. The companies are discussing issues - technical, legal and financial.'

Russia has assisted two 1,000 MW reactors at the Kudankulam plant in Tirunelveli district in Tamil Nadu. According to sources it has voiced concerns over India’s “strict” civil nuclear liability law.

“The Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant exemplifies our close cooperation in the field of nuclear energy. The unit 1 of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant has been completed and attained criticality in July this year. Unit 2 at Kudankulam should be ready in the first half of 2014. On units 3 and 4, our companies are finalizing documents,” the Indian Foreign Secretary said.

India has suggested outlined the insurance parameters like the quantum of risk involved for the Russian suppliers and other issues

India has invited Russia to invest in the ambitious Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) project. Moscow is concerned about the poor bilateral trade levels, which stands at around $11 billion, and would seek measures to push economic ties.

Last year witnessed a 24.5% rise in India-Russia bilateral trade, crossing $11 billion in 2012 for the first time. Investment is also emerging as an important focus of India-Russia bilateral ties. Russia is an important partner in the field of hydro-carbons and OVL is participating in two projects – as 20% partner in the Sakhalin 1 project and as 100% owner and operator of Imperial Energy in Tomsk Region.

Russia is a key partner for India in the field of defence. In recent years, India-Russia military technical cooperation has evolved into joint design, development and production of defence systems such as fifth generation fighters and multi-role transport aircraft. Earlier this year, India received stealth frigate INS Trikand and is now waiting for the commissioning of INS Vikramaditya next month. Indian Armed Forces are holding the INDRA 2013 exercise in Rajasthan along with Russian forces.

During his China visit apart from taking up the issue of Border Defence Cooperation Agreement (BDCA), Dr Singh will discuss with his Chinese counterpart the issue of the use of the waters of trans-boundary likes like Brahmaputra.

India is concerned over the dams being built by China on the Brahmaputra which may curb the flow of water to northeastern India.

India is concerned over the dams being built by China on the Brahmaputra. Both sides share hydrological data and Beijing, which is the upper riparian state, has assured that the dams are merely run-of-river projects that would not curb water flow to India.

India and China have an elaborate architecture of engagement and dialogue which covers the entire gamut of bilateral relations. Prime Minister Dr Singh had met President Xi Jinping on the margins of the BRICS Summit in Durban in March, 2013. Also this year itself, the Indian External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid has met his counterpart on four occasions. The Indian Defence Minister AK Antony visited China in July. The Special Representatives held their 16th round of talks on the boundary question in June at Beijing. The Strategic Dialogue at the level of Foreign Secretary and Chinese Vice Minister was held in August, 2013. Recently there was the first ever India-China Dialogue on Afghanistan and the first India-China Dialogue on Central Asia.

Both India and China are aiming to achieve their commonly set target of $100 billion in terms of bilateral trade by 2015 and are also striving to ensure balance of trade flows. The possibility of Chinese investment in India through the mechanism of an industrial park is being explored in one of the states like UP, Karnataka, Gujarat or Tamil Nadu. During the visit of Prime Minister to Beijing, the second meeting of the India-China CEOs Forum is also slated to take place in Beijing and both the prime ministers are expected to receive the recommendations of the CEOs to expand economic linkages.